DOZENS of patients at hospitals in North and Mid Wales have been struck down with diarrhoea and vomiting (D and V) forcing bosses to shut wards to stop it spreading.

It has got so bad that surgery has been cancelled for routine operations at Wrexham Maelor hospital.

The hospital and Ysbyty Bronglais, Aberystwyth, have been badly affected and Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan, have also been hit.

The sickness has meant hospitals have been slower to discharge patients over Christmas and the New Year.

Maelor spokesman Andy Scotson said: “We have been and are at the moment very, very busy.

“We have got problems with four or five wards closed to new admissions due to diarrhoea and vomiting, which are the worst of several sicknesses.

“As a result we have cancelled surgery for routine operations,” Mr Scotson added.

“Beds are closed on five wards due to D and V, and those wards are not taking in any new patients.

“We have been trying to juggle wards and beds around it. Once a person has had the D and V, patients can’t be moved next to them.

“After 48 hours it clears itself up.

“It’s slightly more than the numbers we normally get. We’re slightly down on the staffing, with staff also affected having to take time off work for three or four days which adds to the difficulties.”

Ysbyty Glan Clwyd spokeswoman Dawn Davies said: “We have had to close two bays, one ward area for the elderly to new patients – six beds overall. We haven’t got any major patterns or trends developing but the D and V is always around at this time of year. It’s not as bad as previous years.”

Mrs Davies added: “GPs are seeing a lot of complaints of chest colds.

“We have had a few warm days going through to cold and dry and very damp causing a lot of chest problems I am told.”

Ysbyty Gwynedd spokeswoman Helen Granton said: “We’ve had no restrictions. We’ve had cases of D and V including at Ysbyty Penrhos, Holyhead, but have managed to work round it. We did not have planned operations over Christmas because people were coming in to the hospital with D and V.”

Ysbyty Bronglais spokesman Brian Thomas said: “We have currently got 52 beds shut due to D and V, one general surgical ward closed, and one general medical.”